Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is getting grilled after tweeting his support for Chick-Fil-A during Pride Month, which critics like former CNN host Soledad O’Brien called an “interesting” choice given the company’s historic opposition to gay marriage.
Dorsey tweeted he’d saved 10 percent on a $31.58 order at a Chick-Fil-A on Saturday, while using the app for Square Cash — the other company he co-founded. The shared picture quickly grabbed the attention of O’Brien, who retweeted his post, adding “this is an interesting company to boost during Pride month, Jack.”
Boost @ChickfilA pic.twitter.com/W03oKeGgGT
— jack (@jack) June 10, 2018
“You’re right,” Dorsey responded to O’Brien. “Completely forgot about their background.”
You’re right. Completely forgot about their background
— jack (@jack) June 10, 2018
That background includes Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy’s opposition to same-sex marriage.
“We’re inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage,” Cathy said in 2012. “And I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude that thinks we have the audacity to redefine what marriage is all about.”
Cathy’s comments pulled the chain into national headlines and sparked a boycott. Chick-Fil-A’s donations to anti-gay organizations soon came to light.
In classic Twitter fashion, Dorsey was lambasted from all sides. First he was called out for boosting the “bigoted” chain.
https://twitter.com/CJPatruno/status/1006117105949921281
On behalf of the whole LGBTQ community, Jack, kindly boost your head out of your ass.
— Adam Goldman (@theadamgoldman) June 10, 2018
mmmmm hate chicken never tasted so homophobic.
— Sarah Burris ?? (@SarahBurris) June 10, 2018
Please delete this or follow up with how much free advertising you're going to give GLAAD.
— EricaJoy (@EricaJoy) June 10, 2018
Other users felt Dorsey was approaching a “slippery slope,” by backing down.
https://twitter.com/Chiddy_GG/status/1006021499755646977
Conservative commentator Jamie Kirchick pushed back against O’Brien, saying it was an example of “a straight person here trying to claim the mantle of LGBT rights via performative wokeness.”
https://twitter.com/jkirchick/status/1005988804623257602
So, @Jack. You APOLOGIZE for eating at Chick-fil-a? How stupendously pathetic is that?
— Neal Boortz — Puddin’ Stick (@Talkmaster) June 11, 2018
Even Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida got in on the action. “This lunacy has gone too far,” said Rubio, adding that Dorsey had been “bullied” into his mea culpa.
This lunacy has gone too far. The CEO of @Twitter bullied into apology for patronizing @ChickfilA because owners support “biblical definition of marriage”. Holding a personal view taught by mainstream Christianity is now boycott worthy. https://t.co/EnChlPBStc via @cbsmoneywatch
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) June 11, 2018
In other Twitter news on Monday, Nation of Islam chief Louis Farrakhan had his verification checkmark pulled after a string of anti-Semitic and anti-gay remarks.